Video release of the 1965 movie, the first of two starring Peter Cushing as "Dr Who". Followed by the sequel Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD. This movie was subsequently re-released on DVD and as a double-pack with its sequel, on both video and DVD.

Edition:

UK (original)

When:

April 1982

Publisher:

Thorn EMI

Format:

1 x VHS PAL

Owned:

Buy:

Note: Was released on both VHS and Betamax.

Cover blurb:Come aboard the Tardis! It may look like a police box from the outside, but step through the door and there's space enough for everybody to share in the fun and excitement of Dr. Who's first encounter with the Daleks.

When the BBC launched Terry Nation's Dr. Who in 1963 it was regarded as an experimental fantasy adventure for children's Saturday teatime viewing. Nobody thought then that the series would run and run, winning devoted followers of all ages. Or that the pepperpot Daleks, rasping out threats to 'An-i-hil-ate' all and sundry, would prove so popular that they would still be returning to pursue their fruitless efforts to outsmart the Doctor when many of those first child-viewers had children of their own.

As we all know by now, Dr. Who is a Time Lord who, every so often, vanishes into the Infinite to return totally changed in appearance and personality. This secret hadn't been revealed in 1965 when puzzled youngsters found him portrayed by Hammer Horror star, Peter Cushing, instead of by television's William Hartnell. Today's better-informed child can understand that he was wearing the identity of a dotty Grandfather when he invented the Tardis and first tangled with the Daleks. With the Doctor on this voyage through time and space are his little granddaughter Susie (Roberta Tovey), her sister Barbara (Jenny Linden) and accident-prone Ian (Roy Castle). It is Ian whose clumsiness sends them off to an unknown world devastated by radiation fall-out, but it is Susie who gets most of the brave and clever things to do when they are captured by the mean and murderous Daleks.

Meeting the metallic menaces again is a pleasurable experience for adults: a mixture of nostalgic affection and amusement. But this adventure, with its comic capers provided by Roy Castle, is particularly suited for young children because it is never more than enjoyably scary.

MARJORIE BILBOW

Edition:

US (original)

When:

January 1985 (Exact date unconfirmed)

Publisher:

Thorn EMI HBO Video

Format:

1 x VHS NTSC

Owned:

Buy:

Cover blurb:Dr. Who, the Time Lord, brings us on an exciting journey through space aboard his spaceship Tardis. Dr. Who and his band of voyagers travel to an unknown world devastated by nuclear fallout.

When the space adventurers are captured by the murderous, metallic Daleks, the action builds as the group tries to outwit the Daleks and escape.

An enjoyably frightening adventure for all!

Edition:

Japan

When:

January 1986 (Exact date unconfirmed)

Publisher:

Cannon

Format:

1 x VHS NTSC

Owned:

Cover blurb:No cover information available yet.

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Edition:

UK (reissue 1)

When:

June 1988

Publisher:

Warner Home Video

Format:

1 x VHS PAL

Owned:

Buy:

Note: A number of variant sleeves exist for this release, all using the same basic design but with wording added across the top — one saying "Dr Who's First Big-Screen Adventure", another saying "WH Smith Exclusive" (This release was initially only available in UK retailer WH Smith).

Cover blurb:The first screen adventure based on the ever-popular BBC television science fiction series.

Join Dr. Who as he is transported by the TARDIS through time and space to the future planet Skaro devastated by radiation fall-out.

There the Timelord battles the mutated alien Daleks who threaten to exterminate the peace-loving Thals by detonating a neutron bomb.

Edition:

US (reissue 1)

When:

January 1989

Publisher:

GoodTimes Home Video

Format:

1 x VHS NTSC

Owned:

Buy:

New:

$1.01

Used:

$1.39

(Not currently available)

Cover blurb:Dr. Who, the Time Lord, brings us on an exciting journey through space aboard his spaceship Tardis. Dr. Who and his band of voyagers travel to an unknown world devasted by radiation fallout. When the space adventurers are captured by the murderous, metallic Daleks, the action builds as the group tries to outwit the Daleks and escape. An enjoyably frightening adventure for all!

Edition:

Australia

When:

January 1990

Publisher:

Unknown

Format:

1 x VHS PAL

Owned:

Buy:

Cover blurb:TARDIS is the latest invention of Dr Who. A Time and Relative Dimension in Space machine, it can transport passengers to another world, at another time, With his grand-daughters, Barbara and Susan, Dr Who demonstrates the machine to Barbara's boyfriend, Ian. Ian trips and stumbles against the control panel, and the four humans are instantly ejected away from the Earth. They land in a vast, petrified forest, and soon Dr Who finds himself involved in a terrible struggle as the peaceable Thal people fight for their survival against the terrible domination of the monstrous Daleks.

Edition:

US (reissue 2)

When:

January 1994

Publisher:

Lumiere

Format:

1 x VHS NTSC

Owned:

Buy:

New:

$29.99

Used:

$4.55

New:

CDN$ 146.19

Used:

CDN$ 21.95

Cover blurb:In this first screen adventure based on the ever-popular BBC television science-fiction series, TARDIS (a Time and Relative Dimension in Space machine) is the latest invention of Dr. Who. It can transport passengers to another world at another time. With his grand-daughters, Barbara and Susan, Dr. Who demonstrates the machine to Barbara's boyfriend, Ian, who trips and stumbles against the control panel, and the four humans are instantly transported from Earth. They land in a vast, petrified forest, and soon Dr. Who finds himself involved in a terrible struggle as the peaceable Thal people fight for their survival against the terrible domination of the monstrous Daleks.

Edition:

UK (reissue 2)

When:

February 1996

Publisher:

Warner Home Video

Format:

1 x VHS PAL

Owned:

Buy:

New:

£14.00

Used:

£4.00

Cover blurb:Peter Cushing plays the Doctor in this exciting first big screen adventure based on the ever-popular BBC television series. The Doctor travels through time and space in his TARDIS to Skaro, birth place of the terrifying metal monsters, the Daleks! Skaro is a planet devastated by radioactive fallout, where the hideously mutated Daleks, safe in their metal city, plot to exterminate their age-old adversaries, the Thals, with a massive neutron bomb. Only the Doctor can save them!

This special widescreen collector's edition features the original trailer.